Lila Lee Watkins

Funeral service for Lila Lee Watkins will be 10 a.m., Sat., April 21, at Eastern Hills Baptist Church with Revs. Jim Duncan and Billy Hickman officiating.
Burial will follow at Carselowey Cemetery, Vinita, under the direction of Musgrove-Merriott-Smith Funeral Service & Crematory. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Fri. 1-8 p.m., and family will greet friends 6-8 p.m.
Lila went to be with the Lord on Tues., April 17, 2012, at the Clarehouse, Tulsa, at the age of 81.
The daughter of Earl and Urahlee (Smith) Harrison was born April 3, 1931, in Vinita. She graduated from Ketchum High School in 1949, and continued her education at Tulsa Business College. She met Ralph Lewis Watkins while he was a student at Spartan School of Areonautics in Tulsa. They were married on July 28, 1950, at the First Baptist Church in Vinita. They made their home in Tulsa until 1960 when they moved to Claremore, Rogers County. At the age of 50, she went back to school to become a nurse. Lila was a caretaker for the Arthur Webster family for many years, and also worked at Craig County Hospital, Hillcrest Hospital, Claremore Veterans Center, Trinity Hospice. She was also a camp nurse for Farmers Union. Lila was a founding member of the Harmony Star Eastern Home Extension.
Lila was preceded in death by her infant son, Martin; son, David; sister, Jane Ann Harrison; and brothers: Wayne and Roy Harrison.
She is survived by her husband, Ralph of the home; sons: Raymond Watkins and wife, Karen of Lewisville, TX, Marvin Watkins and wife, Nim of Claremore, and Mark Watkins of Nashville, TN; daughter, Laurie Hess and husband, Steve of Mustang; brothers: Bobby Harrison of Kansas City, MO, Ray Harrison of Sperry, and Ned Harrison of Oroville, CA; 11 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Clarehouse, 7617 S. Mingo Rd., Tulsa, OK 74113, or www.clarehouse.org .